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All eyes will be on Cape Town on Saturday afternoon when a fantastic field lines up for the 2016 J&B Met.

The race, first run in 1876, has a famous roll of honour and Legal Eagle looks to be a worthy favourite as he bids to continue his fine form at Kenilworth on Saturday (due off at 16.20).

Last season’s SA Derby has won five of nine outings and has earned more than R2.297 million in prize money for his trainer Sean Tarry. His most recent success in the one-mile L'Ormarins Queen's Plate was arguably one of his most impressive to date and South Africa's highest-rated thoroughbred stopped the clock at a sensational 1:39.23.

If Legal Eagle is in the same form on Saturday then he is certain to be very hard to beat and the Avontuur-bred superstar is understandably popular with punters.

Legal Eagle wins the Queens Plate

The Eagle looked to be roaring ahead of the contest with a superb gallop this week and he was drawn perfectly in gate three for the R2.5 million showpiece. The 400m step up in trip should only help his chances and it’s difficult to find any negatives with the market leader.

The main opposition looks set to come from Futura who landed the Queen’s Plate-Met double last season. The son of Dynasty will put up a bold bid to defend his crown but he has not looked quite as good this season and he could only finish fifth to Legal Eagle in this year’s Plate.

Connections will be confident that they have their horse ready to run the race of his life on Saturday but there has been nothing to suggest that he can trouble the favourite in recent showings.

Of more interest could be Legislate who looks to be returning to something like his brilliant best. A six month respite recently seems to have given the Cape Derby, Daily News 2000 and Durban July hero a new lease of life and it would take a brave man to rule him out of a terrific looking renewal of the race.